Thread cutter for weft replenishing looms



1951 w. A. BLANCHARD 2,542,465

THREAD CUTTER FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Aug. 26, 1949 I r i FIG.6

INVENTOR WILLIAM A.BLANCHARD.

ATTORNEY l atented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,542,465 'FIIRE'AWCUTTERLFOR fiErtENisii- INGT LOOMS" William A. Blanchard; Millbury' Mas's assigii'or to Grompt'on &-K-1io'wles Loom Works, Worcester', -Mass.',. a corporation of Massachusetts- This invention relates to nis'nis for weft replenishing 1061115 and it is the general object or the invention to provide a thread cutting mechanism havingmultiple cut ting edges-which can be moved one at a time into operative position A type of weft replenishing loom-which has gdn'eintdgenera-l use eni'ploys a shuttle having a metallic plate its front wall to cooperate witli'a thread cutterat -the time-of weft-replem ist iine'nt; The; thread from the" delivery eye of the shuttle eit'eiids" across the plate tothe cloth e a e; and: as the lay" advances" on -a replenish: b'at fth chisel edge" of the thread cutter firoje'ted'rearwar(11y against ametal plate to cut the thread. As the result of repeated opera: tidris th plate dulling edge: and the cutter must be removed fr'om" the 1 loom and sharpened.

'It 'i-s- -animportant objectof the presentin ventidn to provide a thread cutterof the type hfereinb'ef'ore mentioned wherein" the cutter bladeh'asa pluralitir of cutting edges? distributedafroundits periphery and wherein theblade is new: yieldingly in operative? position in-sueh mantier that it can be turnedmanually tomove eachedge into "operating position.-

' Because of slight inaccuracies in alignmentoftheplate on-the shuttle with the carrierfor thecutterit is necessary to make provision for slight angular motion ofthecutter blade-so that its edge can alignwith the shuttle carried plate. It is afurther object of thepresent invention to: provide a--thread cutter wherein the cutting blade will have one of its edges; held in operating position by-meanswhich'will' not only permit the-aforesaid turning" of the blade but will also permit slight angular adjustment of the blade to permit its operative edges to align correctlywith the-plateon the loom.

It is-a more specific objectdf the intention to provide'a thread cutting ur'iit' having" a stem with a multi-edge cutting blade rotatable thereon associated with a yielding positionerwhi'ch holds the cutting blade in it's approximate operative position by engagementwith'a non-cutting part of the blade. The cutting edges are provided by" b'evelingthe blade and theyielding positioner preferably engages a beveled surface at a point shaded. irom the corresponding cutting edge. The positionermavconveniently be made part of a washer or the like surrounding the stem and spring urged in a direction to holdthe thread cutting" blade in normal position} With these and other objectsin view which will appear as" the dese1'-iptior1- proceeds; the in -9 Claims; (Cl. 139 267) thread cutting rholia 2 venutn resiis tl'i-cd'bihtttidii' and arrange:- ment of parts lirinaf-te'f described and Set 'fOr-tfli I-hthe aecorn1oan'yi-ng' drawings;-wherein tw forms-d1 tlie-dn'vefition af set forth, Fig} 1- is-aplan view,-parts in section of one end of a weft replenishing loom showiii g th'' shuttle, the my; and th'-fil frrewforh r of thread cutter; V v Fig.-2 is-a 1'i enlarged l'iiI'ah vitifiof tl'le i'ear part ofththread' cutter" shown i'fi -Fig -1 Fig.- 3 is asid'elva tion ldoking in th direct: non of arrow-cl ng.- Fig. 4 is a transverse: verucai secuoir line t-=4 =,1=*i'g. 2;

Fig. is tr aiisvfs vitidail Section an line .3; v I Fig; dis a; dta' 'd Vertical section on line 6 6 Fig.- 3, takn-loiigitujdihally dfi the supporting sterri,- and Fig. 7- is -view similartd" Fig' abut showing: a'mo'd-i-fied' form of cutter blade.-- t

Referring particularly to Fig31; the loorfi -ffafiiei m-suppor ts a? magazihe partof which desig: nated generally at H. A transferrer arm l 2 has a huB' I;3 611 a Stud l'4 -fie1'd-in'-fi3ed pd'sit'idnwith I 'pt ttithe rs -qt the ina 1 Zine. The latter isbolted to the b rjst'be" or the loc'iifi ahd th tr ahsfei'rr ssuarri is ndr'mami' raised a-hd hasopeiativebf dofinected thfet6 "a latch l6 whih i'sknorm 11y" below: the paur qt hunter" 1-1 on; lay-I Th' tud 4 is hel'd i flied position as by a t'screvv I9 and 'has fastened theretoallar' 2 01 A i' BIatiV eIy stran -torsion spring- 21 is interposed btw'eerrthe collar-end" the hub l3' and tnds noi lfially tohold; th trans ferr'er arinraised.-

Stud I 4extend tothiightof'the collaflfii its Shown in Fi'grI-Q-aHG haS a stand 25' seurti thereto which supports avertieal stud 26 whichrdclably moufitd a cutter lever 2 1%- A torsion sidl i-hg 28 shown in 1 dotted IiIIS in Ff tends normally to hold the-lever iri Sal-mph tionthat the-left" arm "as-whereof is against/ a depending" mgce oftthe transferrer arm; Arm 3| oflever- ZfF-suppOr ts' -a stem'32 -held thereto by set screw 33 The'cu er mechahis'n'rdesignated generally-at C an N or'ming an important part? of thefinver'ition i's mo'u'hted on the 'rear end of Stem 32v I The l'a'y isjp'iovid'dwith al' sh'uttl box- 35' Wh receives a shuttle scontain ing a bobbin B wh in thepresent iristanee is shown as substantially depleted of Weft The u' fti'threa'd w' extends and their along at 1ate" F secured i'n the front:

3 wall of the shuttle and thence to the selvage of the fabric F.

Under normal conditions when the transferrer arm 12 is raised the lug 38 will be in rear position and will act on arm 29 to hold the cutter mechanism C forwardly in non-cutting position. At the time of transfer, however, the hunter l1 pushes latch 16 forwardly to cause lowering of the transferrer arm and forward motion of lug 36, whereupon the spring 28 turns the lever 21 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, and the cutter mechanism is projected rearwardly through a slot 36 in the shuttle box front wall 31 against the plate P to cut the thread W.

Except for the details of the mechanism C the matter thus far described is of common construction. As heretofore made the mechanism C has employed a small cutting blade having a single cutting edge mounted on the stem 32 so that it is capable of slight angular motion to adjust itself to the plane of the plate P. Because of repeated engagement between the cutter and the plate the cutting edge is likely to become dull and require frequent resharpening.

In carrying the present invention into effect the cutter mechanism is provided with a multiedge cutting blade which is held yieldingly in position so that any one of the edges may be moved manually to cutting position and any edge when in normal cutting position can adiust itself slightly to the plate P.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 to 6 the stem 32 has the rear part thereof provided with a vertical slot 48 defining right and left forks or arms 4| and 42, see Fig. 2. A pin 43 secured to the arms extends across the slot 40 and has rotatably mounted thereon a cutter blade 45 which in the preferred form of the invention is provided with four cutting edges 46, 41, 48 and 49. These edges are formed by beveling the blade, each edge having a bevel surface 50.

1 At a point forward of the cutter blade 45 the stem 32 has extending therethrough a pin 55 behindwhich is a washer 5B which receives the forward thrust of a relatively weak compression spring 51 surrounding the stem 32. The rear end of spring 51 bears against a positioner or holder in the form of a washer 58 which is formed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Washer 58 has a circular disk-like body 68 having two parti-circular openings 6| and 62 therein to receive forks or arms 4! and 42, respectively. The openings 6| and 62 are separated by a bridge 63 which may be integral with the main body 68 of the washer 58. This bridge is so proportionedthat it fits the slot 40 and the fit of the washer 58 with respect to the stem is sufiiciently loose to permit back and forth motion of the positioning washer relatively to the stem.

The bridge 63 is preferably formed with a positioning lug or lip 65 located at one side of the slot 48 as shown in Fig. 6 and engaging a bevel surface 58 of the cutter at a point removed from the cutting edge edjacent thereto. This lip or lug may be of sufficient length, as indicated at 66, Fig. 3 to extend on both sides of the axis of the stem 32 so that the rear cutting'edge, such as 46, will be held in approximate cutting position under normal conditions.

When a cutting operation occurs as, previously described the mechanism C will be projected rearwardly and should the cutter edge 46 be not quite aligned with the plane of the plate P the cutter can rock about its pin 43 upon engagement with the plate against the action of spring 51. During this slight rocking of the blade 45 the front cutting edge 48 will be free and will not engage any part of the positioning washer 58 due to the fact that the lug or lip is pressed against the front bevelisurface 58 corresponding to the front edge 48.

If, after repeated operations, it is noted that the rear edge 46 is dull the positioning member or washer 58 can be moved forwardly on stem 32 by a manual operation, after which the blade 45 can be turned either to the right or to the left to bring either the cutting edge 49 or 4! into rearward cutting position. As soon as the cutter blade has been set in its new position, the positioning washer 58 will be released, whereupon the spring 51 will reestablish the holding and positioning relationship shown for instance in Fig.3.

In the modified form shown in Fig. '7 all parts of the structure thus far described may be the same except the cutter blade, which as indicated at 70, will have six sides and have six cutting edges designated at H. In both forms of the invention the stem 32 is capable of angular adjustment around its axis by reason of a set screw 33, so that the operative cutting edge can be at the left of the cutting blade as shown in Fig. 1, or to the right, depending upon which condition of cutting is desired. In either position of the stem 32 and in both forms of the invention the placing lug or lip 65 will engage a bevel surface of thecutter blade and not a cutting edge.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth a simple thread cutter provided with a cutter blade having multiple cutting edges which are movable manually one at a time into operative position. The cutter mechanism is so made that either form of blade shown will have its rear cutting edge held in approximately the correct position for cutting, but can rock slightly upon engagement with the cutting plate P against the action of spring 51 acting through the washer 58 and positioning lug 65. When it is desired to move a new cutting edge into position the washer 58 will be moved forwardly against the action of spring 51 a sufficient distance to permit turning of the cutting blade in a direction to move a new cutting edge into cutting position. During the I slight rocking of the cutter blade incident to its alignment with the plate P the cutter blade will move angularly around the pivot pin 43, the front edge will be spaced from the lug 65 and will not be worn by it during angular movement of the blade incident to its operation. The lug 65 may in fact be formed as an integral part of the washer 58 and be struck from body 60 when the opening 61 is punched. When all of the edges are dull the stem can be removed from the lever armj 31 for re-sharpening, but such removal will not- 1. In thread cutting mechanism for. a weft replenishing loom having a lay, a shuttle provided with a plate in the front wall thereof, a-

snares sapperun'giever ner'mauy minoperatrve assion blitdfiOViIiQ'td operativepesi-tion: '11- a} Weft re:

plenishing-beat ofthe loom as the lay and shuttle move forwardly, a supporting member mounted on and moving with the" lever, acutter blade rotatably mounted on the member and having a' and" enabling the blade to" move angularly with respect to the' member to" alignsaidcne cutting edge with said plate; said re'silientmeans being C'a p'ablbf HiOVifig'in-a; di'rctidh' aWQIYfIOIh Said" blade to enable'the latter to turn with-respect to thememberto present another cutting" edge in operating position and thereafter returning to normal position to engagesaid-bladeand hold the same with said other cutting edge in normal cutting position.

2. In thread cutting mechanism-for a weftre-" plenishing; loom havingla lay and a shuttle thereon provided with a plate in the front wall thereof and the loom having a supporting lever normally in inoperative position but moving to operative position on a Weft replenisriirigbeat of the loom as they lay and shuttle move forwardly, said cutting mechanism comprising a supporting member secured to the lever, a cutter blade rotatably mounted on the member and having a plurality of straight thread cutting edges distributed around the periphery thereof, a compression spring surrounding part of said member and having the forward end thereof restrained against forward motion relatively to the member, a washer interposed between said spring and the blade cooperating with the spring to hold the blade with one of the cutting edges thereof normally in cutting position, said washer being yieldable against the action of said spring to permit slight angular motion of the cutter blade with respect to the member for alignment of said one cutting edge with the plate in the shuttle, and said washer being movable forwardly away from the blade to enable the latter to turn to move another cutting edge thereof to cutting position.

3. In thread cutting mechanism for a weft replenishin loom having alay and a shuttle thereon provided with a plate in the front wall thereof and the loom having a supporting lever normally in inoperative position but moving to operative position on a weft replenishing beat of the loom as the lay and shuttle move forwardly, said cutting mechanism comprising a stem secured to the lever and having a vertical slot in the rear end thereof, a cutter blade extending through the slot rotatable on the stem and having a plurality of straight cutting edges disposed around the periphery thereof, a compression spring on said stem having the forward end thereof restrained with respect to forward motion with respect to the stem, and a washer having a portion thereof extending through said slot and held normally by said spring against a forward part of the blade to position a rear cutting edge of the blade in cutting position for cooperation with said plate in the shuttle, said washer being movable forwardly on the stem against the action of said spring to permit turn ng of the blade to move another cutting edge thereof to cutting position.

4. In thread cutting mechanism for a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a shuttle memes-provided with a: mate in the frofit wanil thereof and the loom ha-vin'g 'a supportinglev normally in inoperative position but moving'td operative position on a weft replenishing beat of the loom as the lay andshuttle move'forwardlyy said cutting mechanism comprising a ste n' secured to said lever and having a slot inthe rear end thereof, a thread cutting blade'extend' ing through the slot rotata'bly mounted on the stem and having a plurality of straight edg' 3? arranged around the'periphery thereof,- a washer having a bridge extending'through said slot, and a spring on said stem urging the washer against" a forward part of said blade and holding the? latter'withone edge thereof in cutting position;-- said washer being movable forwardly against the action of said springaway" from said blade to enable the latter to be rotated with respe' 3 to the stem to move another edge thereof cutting position;

5. In thread cutting mechanism for a weft replenishing loom having a lay and a shuttlethereon provided with a plate in the front wall thereof and the loom having a supporting lever normallyin inoperative position but moving to operative position on a weft replenishing beat of the loom as the lay andshuttle move for wardly, said thread cutting mechanism com prising a stem secured to the lever and having 'avertical slot in the rear end thereof, a cutterblade pivotally mounted on the stem extending through said slot and having a plurality of straight thread cutting edges arranged around the periphery thereof, said blade having a beveled surface for each cutting edge, a positioning washer on the stem having a lug in said slot extending above and below the axis of the stem and engaging a forward beveled surface of the blade along a line spaced from the cutting edge corresponding to said forward beveled surface, and a spring on said stem normally holding said lug against said forward beveled surface to hold one of said edges yieldingly in cutting position, said blade being angularly movable on said stem to align the edge in cutting position with the plate on the shuttle against the action of said spring, and said washer being movable forwardly from normal position to enable the blade to turn relatively to the stem to move a different cutting edge to cutting position and move a different beveled surface into position for engagement with said lug.

6. A thread cutting unit for a weft replenishing loom operating with a shuttle having a plate in the front wall thereof, said unit comprising a supporting member, a cutter blade rotatable on the member and having a plurality of straight cutting edges arranged around the periphery thereof, and resilient means mounted on the member efiective to hold the blade yieldingly in normal position with one of the cutting edges thereof in operative position, said resilient means being movable away from the blade to permit the latter to be turned on the member to move another cutting edge into operative position.

'7. A thread cutting unit for a weft replenishing loom operating with a shuttle having a plate in the front wall, said unit comprising a stem, a cutter blade rotatable on the stem, a positioning washer on the stem, and resilient means supported by the stem holding said washer yieldfrom the blade to permit angular movement of the latter with respect to the stem to move another cutting edge into operative position.

8. A thread cutting unit for a weft replenishing loom operating with a shuttle having a plate thereon for cooperation with the cutter unit, said unit comprising a supporting member having a slot therein, a thread cutting blade rotatably mounted on said member and extend ing through said slot and having a plurality of straight cutting edges arranged around the periphery thereof, a compression spring on said member the forward end of which is restrained against movement in a direction away from said blade, and a positioning washer between the rear end of said spring and the blade held in normal position by the spring and caused by the latter to engage the blade and hold the same yieldingly normally in position with one of the cutting edges in cutting position, said blade being movable angularly to a slight extent with respect to the member when the washer is held near the normal position thereof by said spring, and said positioning washer being movable away from the blade to enable the latter to be turned slot in the rear end thereof, a cutter blade pivotally mounted on the stem and rotatable insaid slot and having a plurality of straight cut;

ting edges arranged around the periphery thereof, the blade having a beveled surface for each cutting edge, a positioning washer on the stem having a bridge extending through the slot, a lug on the bridge for engagement with a beveled surface of the cutter blade at one side of said slot spaced from the corresponding cutting edge, and resilient means on the stem holding said lug against said beveled surface, said positioning washer being movable forwardly away from said blade to enable the'latter to be turned on the stem to move another cutting edge to operative position and move another beveled surface into position for engagement with said lug.

WILLIAM A. BLANCHARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bechtold July 18, 1933 

